Many people around the world exploring the idea of a trip to Southeast Asia are looking for a few things in particular. They tend to want great food, beautiful scenery, and a chance to relax. Going further, some are looking for specific things like scuba diving opportunities, casinos, watersports, or whatever else it may be. The trouble is that a lot of the most prominent destinations in the area are famous specifically for excelling in these areas, which can make it difficult for people to pick and choose vacation possibilities. When you look closely however, it becomes hard to argue with the idea that Singapore in particular excels in some…

Just wanted to quickly jot down a couple of thoughts on our last flight, in case anyone was wondering about booking and flying with Norwegian Air from Asia to Europe! Do it. It was freaking awesome, no joke. We were super impressed by our first flight with them from Bangkok, Thailand, direct to Stockholm in Sweden, even though it was a pretty hefty 12 hour flight! Previously, when we lived in Australia and flew to Europe to see our families, we would usually fly with Emirates, Etihad, or Singapore Airlines, the fancy airlines, where you could get free-flow alcohol, and sleeping masks etc. Then when we were backpacking around SE…

Currently flying from Bangkok to Stockholm right now, and this non-stop 12 hour journey can either be a drainer, or pretty comfy. Hopefully we survive this long-haul flight! I’ve put together a quick list of essentials that can either make or break a long plane ride. Check them out and let me know if you have any more tips or tricks to add! Check the requirements for carry on luggage. Most airlines we’ve come across will allow a carry on bag (various weights and sizes depending on the airline) that you will store in the overhead locker, and will also allow a smaller bag that you can store under the…

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So long story short, we have now left Koh Tao. The place where we made our lives for the past 5 years; made a home, created life-long friendships (cheesy but true, especially when you work, drink, eat, even sometimes live aside one another!), and most importantly, started our diving careers from Open Water students, through to Master Scuba Diving Trainers. To run through it quickly, the biggest reason we left the comfort of our island home is because we are looking for the next challenge, and in that, we decided that we needed to find something that will set us up for our future. We love being Scuba Instructors, and…

I’m baaaack! I know it’s been radio silence for a long time on this travel blog, but that’s because Lionel and I haven’t been traveling. We’ve been settled on Koh Tao now for a while, and this month was actually our 5 year anniversary of starting our PADI Open Water scuba diving course. In December this year, it’ll be our 5 years of actually living and working on Koh Tao as dive professionals! Crazy how fast the time has gone. I’ve slithered back out of the water that is now my home to talk about something that has radically changed my life recently. The thing that I believe is an…

Koh Tao Festival is upon us again! It happens every year, and is a two day event run by the Save Koh Tao organisation, and the local Koh Taoian community. This year it falls on the 18th and 19th of June, and right now I can hear the thumping bass from the festival grounds. It’s my third year attending the Koh Tao Festival, and as always, it’s a time for the Thais, Burmese workers, and Westerners (local, and tourists) to mingle, eat food, drink, and listen to looooud, peaking Thai techno/pop. There’s also usually a few shows that are performed on the main stage, and last night we watched the…

Awesome new work shirts designed by the ever so talented Lionel Kobi. #getsome #gettingsome #gotsome @saireecottagediving #kohtao A photo posted by emma.o (@elko.em) on Mar 13, 2016 at 10:17pm PDT Stop thinking about it, and do it. Get Some. Get on it. Find out what you love, and do it. Whether it’s traveling, being successful in your career, or with your family and friends. Do it. Be Happy, and Get Some. We did, and we love it.

We were having lunch in Amed, #Bali when we noticed this kid singing and yelling, trying to entertain himself from outside his family's shop. During our travels around #SEAsia I loved checking out these little #cornershops where locals would buy everything from 3-in-1 coffee satchets to toiletries and enemas (don't ask me how I know)! Unfortunately, everything is packaged in tiny wrappings of multicoloured plastic which is then discarded and thrown onto the ground. As a diver we see the effects of the everyday plastic which gets washed into the ocean, literally choking the marine life and the coral. This won't get broken down for thousands of years and may…

Not gonna lie, but as we near our three year mark of leaving Melbourne, I still have to say; I don’t miss it much. Honestly, there isn’t much to miss. With advanced technology and the so-so internet speed on the island, we still have access to Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook etc. I actually communicate on a more frequent basis with my immediate family back in Australia. We have a group chat where we greet each other with ‘Good Mornings!‘ and messages about the mundanes (‘I’m making a coffee right now and reading the news.‘ – thanks for letting us know Mum), to the excitements (‘I got a new job!’ – Congrats…